IAAA Chapter 2

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I am an alpha, a thirty-something unemployed drifter.

I returned to my old house and nearly got the directions wrong on the way. The dust inside had accumulated quite a bit. As I cleaned, I cursed under my breath—my muscles still felt stiff. After all, I had been lying down for twelve years. It was already a miracle they hadn’t completely atrophied.

It took me an entire day to clean before the place was barely livable. There was nothing left at home—rice, oil, and noodles were all expired, some even covered in green mold. Pinching my nose, I threw everything out and sighed at the emptiness of the house.

My family had already been gone before my accident, and now I was all alone, with nothing to hold me back.

Why did I even wake up? I asked myself, but the silence gave no answer.

I had no food, no cash, no phone, and the landline had long been disconnected.

After rummaging through drawers for a long time, I finally found a dusty hundred or so in cash and my old bank card. Stuffing them into my pocket, I went downstairs and wandered through a commercial street that I was no longer too familiar with.

I bought a few steamed buns, though I didn’t like the taste, then picked up some vegetables and meat at the supermarket. Finally, I stopped by the bank on my way home, carrying my groceries in one hand while slotting my card into the ATM and smoothly entering a string of numbers.

"Incorrect password, please try again."

I stared blankly at the screen for a long time. That was definitely the right password. Muttering to myself, I entered it again.

"Incorrect password, please try again."

"717…" I counted on my fingers, then suddenly froze.

Those three numbers hit me like a slap, making my eyes sting red. Running a hand through my hair, I retrieved my rejected card.

I didn’t dare try again. I needed to reset my password—I had mixed it up. I never had anything to do with 717 before.

The bank had already closed, so I had no choice but to head back home.

Halfway there, the rain started pouring down unexpectedly, drenching me to the bone.

"I told you to bring an umbrella today, but you never remember."

A young couple walking beside me was caught in the rain too. Hearing the remark, I glanced at them out of the corner of my eye. The alpha tapped their omega’s nose and pulled them into their embrace, shielding them from most of the rain.

The omega half-apologized, half-playful, "Sorry, sorry, I forgot."

"You always forget everything."

The omega, sneaking a quick peck on the alpha’s lips, spoke with an unmistakable sweetness, "But I have you, don’t I?"

I was drenched, inside and out, from their public display of affection. Not bothering to watch their romance any longer, I quickened my pace toward home.

The floor I had just scrubbed clean was now covered in rainwater and muddy footprints. I hastily put everything away and grabbed a towel, heading straight for the bathroom.

Thank goodness—there was still hot water.

At the hospital, they had only wiped me down, so this was my first real shower since waking up.

The hot water against my skin felt good—almost addictive. I dried myself off, wrapped up in a bathrobe, and pulled out the old hairdryer from the cabinet.

The warm air buzzed around my ears as I ran my hands through my hair. It had grown long, but the strands were stiff and coarse, no longer soft.

"Bring me a set of pajamas."

I instinctively called out, but there was no response.

The steam on the mirror had begun to clear, revealing my slightly furrowed brows and a face I hadn’t seen in twelve years.

"Bring me…"

The rest of the sentence was swallowed by the sudden, uncontrollable sobs that burst forth.

On the fifteenth day after waking up, in the bathroom of my own house, I cried like my soul was being torn apart.

Tears streamed endlessly from my eyes. My whole body trembled as I wrapped my arms around myself, unable to stop shaking. Eventually, I collapsed onto the cold, wet floor.

For the first time in my life, I cried until I couldn’t breathe, my chest aching unbearably. My mouth opened, but only choked sobs came out. My stomach twisted like a worn-out rag, and before I knew it, I was throwing up into the toilet, heaving so violently I felt like even my bile would come up.

The memories of the past few days spun chaotically in my mind—the nurse’s incessant chatter, Shen Junshan’s expression, those two children that made my heart ache, and the young couple I had seen today.

Why?

Why did I wake up only after having had everything?

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